Toyota 30 hour endurance test

[Coupe_bloke]

Nice to see more evidence of the seriousness of the effort. The rhetoric does suggest this year will be getting up to speed rather than genuinely challenging the Germans though - no surprise there I guess.

http://www.toyotahybridracing.com/first-endurance-...

[Skywalker]

I am hopeful that they have a good outing.
Their GT One wasn't exactly a pig was it?

[Rs2oo]

Apparently this has been in development for the past three years. Agree, it shouldn't challenge the Audis on outright performance but Le Mans is not always won by the fastest car. Fuel economy is crucial, how many more laps will the Toyota do before refuelling compared to the Audis. If the Germans have accidents and/or reliability problems or punctures Toyota could take the advantage. You never know !

[DS240]

But Audi is hybrid also, so will they have fuel advantage?

Really hope Toyota can create the close races we've had in recent years.

Just need Porsche along in the fight also. Shame Peugeot threw the towel in.

[robmlufc]

Will depend who has the best and most reliable hybrid system I guess.

[The Angry Gopher]

Rs2oo said:

Fuel economy is crucial, how many more laps will the Toyota do before refuelling compared to the Audis.

It's interesting to see the two manufacturers' different approaches to hybrid cars; Audi with a diesel hybrid and Toyota with a petrol version. Unless the rules governing the performance of petrol and diesel cars has changed significantly I can't see the Toyota out-stinting the Audis (with or without hybrid technology).

[Rs2oo]

DS240 said:

But Audi is hybrid also, so will they have fuel advantage? in.

Hope so for a close race. Toyota as a manufacture are years ahead of Audi in hybrid technology so may have the upper hand ?

[robmlufc]

Rs2oo said:

Hope so for a close race. Toyota as a manufacture are years ahead of Audi in hybrid technology so may have the upper hand ?

Although Audi are borrowing the Porsche/Williams system aren't they? Thats been racing around for a few years now.

[Rs2oo]

robmlufc said:

Although Audi are borrowing the Porsche/Williams system aren't they? Thats been racing around for a few years now.

Audi obviously have got it right including a reliable race car. I would like to see Toyota on the podium but I am ever the optimist !

[Red Firecracker]

Remember that Audi is 2+2, 2 hybrid, 2 traditional, so they are hedging their bets, quite wisely.

Economy is not the only factor either, remember that Peugeot was marginally better on fuel last year but Audi were stopping more often, 31 to Peugeot's 28 (for 1st and 2nd place). Shorter stops, less fuel going on board (the slow bit) but more of them gave them the 13 second advantage.

Edited by Red Firecracker on Tuesday 21st February 10:38

[robmlufc]

DSC did a great article on how Audi beat Peugeot with a slower car in 2008 by being far more organised with pit stops, I think they did 4 less driver changes than Peugeot. Audi in recent years have rarely had the faster cars, its their strategy and reliability that keeps winning Le Mans.